Adjustable handle construction for a compaction apparatus

Abstract

An adjuster handle construction for a soil compactor such as a percussion rammer. The compactor includes a shoe adapted to engage the surface to be compacted and the shoe is driven in a reciprocating path by a drive cylinder which, in turn, is operated by an engine located at the upper end of the compactor. A tubular guard surrounds the engine and engine components, and a handle is pivotally connected to the guard. The handle can be locked to the guard through an adjustable locking mechanism, so that the handle can be positioned in a plurality of different elevations.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a compaction apparatus, a soil compacting member, drive means operably connected to said soil compacting member for driving said soil compacting member in a vertical reciprocating path to compact said soil, guard means spaced and surrounding said drive means, a handle having an inner end and having an opposed distal end projecting outwardly beyond said guard means and positioned to be engaged by an operator, means for pivotally connecting the inner end of the handle to said guard means such that said distal end is movable between a position below the guard means to a position above the guard means, and adjustable locking means interconnecting the handle at a location between said ends to said guard means for locking the handle to said guard means at a plurality of different elevations between said above and below positions, said guard means being generally rectangular in horizontal elevation and including a pair of parallel spaced side members, said handle being generally U-shaped and having a pair of generally parallel arms, said guard means including a forward end portion and a rear end portion disposed at a downwardly inclinded angle with respect to said forward portion, said arms being pivotally connected to the rear end portions of said side members. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a gasoline engine and said guard means is spaced outwardly of said engine. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end of said handle is disposed at a downwardly inclined angle with respect to said inner end.